Total phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and toxicity of selected medicinal and aromatic plants

The importance of dietary antioxidant components for the prevention of some diseases and health quality improvement has attracted much research attention through the last decade. Vegetables and herbal infusions have been recognized as important antioxidant sources. Food industry shows significant interest in application of plant bioactive compounds for flavoring but also for preservation purposes, but attention should be given in case of high doses . In the current study were investigated the total phenolic content, the antioxidant activity and the toxicity of selected medicinal aromatic plants that are being consumed as decoctions or used as food additives

Instrumental Analysis of bacterial cells growth under incubation with Crocus sativus L. extracts using FT-IR spectroscopy

Foodborne illness is a threat to public health and challenge for food industry. Very young children, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems and the elderly are at the most risk. Foodborne illness also known as food poisoning usually arises from improper handling, preparation, or food storage and is associated with microbial pathogens. Bacteria are a common cause of foodborne illness and especially Salmonella and Escherichia coli. At present food industry uses chemical additives in several processes in order to prevent bacterial growth and extend the shelf life of foods. However, these substances have adverse effects. In the current study, Crocus sativus L. extracts were tested as potential natural antimicrobial agents. The antimicrobial activity of plants extracts was studied towards Gram-negative strains belonging to the above species. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was applied in order to evaluate the changes in the cellular composition of target bacterial cells after their exposure to extracts

Antimicrobial activity of plant extracts against oral pathogens. Detection of cellular structural changes by FT-IR.

Periodontal diseases and dental caries are common oral disorders in human population with a multifactorial etiology closely related with the development of dental plaque. The latter is composed of native oral microbiota and it is accumulated on teeth surfaces. Several antiseptic agents are used widely to inhibit bacterial growth [1,2]. However, these substances have adverse effects. In the current study, six plants extracts namely, chamomile, dittany, lemon balm, rosemary, saffron and sage, were tested as potential natural antimicrobial agents. The antimicrobial activity of plants extracts was studied towards Gram-positive strains belonging to Streptococcus species related to the oral health. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was applied in order to evaluate the changes in the cellular composition of target bacterial cells after their exposure to extracts of both plants

Antimicrobial activity of Melissa officinalis L. and Crocus sativus L. against oral pathogens: Detection of cellular structural changes by FT-IR.

Periodontal diseases and dental caries are common oral disorders in human population with a multifactorial etiology closely related with the development of dental plaque. The latter is composed of native oral microbiota and it is accumulated on teeth surfaces. Several antiseptic agents are used widely to inhibit bacterial growth [1,2]. However, these substances have adverse effects. In the current study, Melissa officinalis L. and Crocus sativus L. extracts were tested as potential natural antimicrobial agents. The antimicrobial activity of plants extracts was studied towards Gram-positive strains belonging to Streptococcus species related to the oral health. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was applied in order to evaluate the changes in the cellular composition of target bacterial cells after their exposure to extracts of both plants

Comparative study of biological activities of Crocus sativus L. extracts and Lamiaceae plants’ extracts

In the current study, different extracts of Origanum dictamnus L. leaves (dittany), Melissa officinalis L. leaves (lemon balm) and Crocus sativus L. stigmas (saffron) were tested as potential natural antoxidant and antimicrobial agents

SHORELINE EFFECTS OF 10-28 RUNWAY OF “MACEDONIA" AIRPORT EXTENSION INTO THE SEA LABORATORY STUDY

Προκειμένου να διερευνηθούν οι επιπτώσεις στις παρακείμενες ακτές από την επέκταση στη θάλασσα του διαδρόμου προσαπογειώσεων "10-28", του κρατικού διεθνή αερολιμένα Θεσσαλονίκης "Μακεδονία", ανατέθηκε από το Υ.ΠΕ.ΧΩ.Δ.Ε./Ε.Υ.Δ.Ε. Αεροδρομίων Βόρειας Ελλάδας, στο Εργαστήριο Λιμενικών Έργων του Εθνικού Μετσόβιου Πολυτεχνείου η έρευνα σε φυσικό προσομοίωμα. Κατά την πειραματική μελέτη της κυματικής διαταραχής στην περιοχή του αερολιμένα, παρατηρήθηκε μικρή αύξηση της κυματικής διαταραχής λόγω ανάκλασης των προσπιπτόντων κυματισμών στο μέτωπο του προβλεπόμενου έργου και προσωρινές ζώνες στασιμότητας ροής στις γωνίες του, ενώ δεν παρατηρήθηκε συστηματική και αξιοσημείωτη αλλοίωση της ακτογραμμής από την παρουσία του έργου. Οι κατασκευαστικές εργασίες (λιμενικά έργα) έχουν ξεκινήσει από το τέλος του 2006. Τα αποτελέσματα των πειραματικών μετρήσεων στο φυσικό προσομοίωμα επιβεβαιώνονται με την απόκριση του έργου στη φύση δεδομένου ότι δεν έχουν σημειωθεί μέχρι σήμερα αλλοιώσεις και διάβρωση της ακτογραμμής.Thessaloniki International Airport “Macedonia” had decided the extension of the existing Runway “10-28” by about 1 km west into the sea. In order to assure that no catastrophic erosion of the adjacent beaches will occur due to such a big construction into the sea, the Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works assigned Laboratory of Harbour Works of National Technical University of Athens the experimental investigation of its coastal impacts. Wave perturbation, wave overtopping and beach response to the construction of the Runway were tested. The construction of the Runway in the sea has already started. The experimental results were confirmed by field observation

Ultra-low volume oxygen tolerant photoinduced Cu-RDRP

We introduce the first oxygen tolerant ultra-low volume (as low as 5 μL total reaction volume) photoinduced copper-RDRP of a wide range of hydrophobic, hydrophilic and semi-fluorinated monomers including lauryl and hexyl acrylate, poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate) and trifluoroethyl (meth)acrylate. In the absence of any external deoxygenation, well-defined homopolymers can be obtained with low dispersity values, high end-group fidelity and near-quantitative conversions. Block copolymers can be efficiently synthesized in a facile manner and the compatibility of the system to larger scale polymerizations (up to 0.5 L) is also demonstrated by judiciously optimizing the reaction conditions. Importantly, the online monitoring of oxygen consumption was also conducted through an oxygen probe and the role of each component is identified and discussed